Hayes also wants to contribute after having surgery three times on his abdominal region last season. The 30-year-old center said it was the third procedure Jan. 18, which drained fluid from the adductor region of his hip, that helped cure an infection that had been the root of his issues.
Hayes finished the season with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 48 games, including a team-leading 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 28 games after returning from that third surgery March 5.
"This was the first summer I've had in probably two years where I entered into the training part of my summer where I was 100 percent and doing everything and nothing was really holding me back," Hayes said.
As much as his body feels good, Hayes' mental approach is better too, because he can trust his body again.
That process started last season and has been reinforced by how he's felt on the ice.
"There were times last year where I was leaving games where I was questioning whether I'd ever feel good ever again," he said. "It was nice to know that I could play hockey again and enjoy myself and not worry about my groins every shift I'm on the ice. So that was the main reason why I came back, and it cleared a lot of mental thoughts up for me, and I'm hoping that it stays that way."
Their teammates certainly are excited to have the two top centers healthy and ready to contribute.
"It's huge, arguably your No. 1 and No. 2 center," forward Cam Atkinson said Tuesday. "They were both hurt the whole season. When you have 'Coots,' one of your best players if not your best player, going 100 percent, he anticipates, he dictates the play, not only in the offensive zone but defensively, his stick is so good. And Hayes is so naturally skilled. When you have your two big boys going it drags the other guys into the fight."
With a healthy Couturier and Hayes, there is an internal belief that the Flyers could prove the skeptics wrong and return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after failing to qualify in each of the past two seasons.
In addition to the hiring of Tortorella on June 17, Philadelphia acquired defenseman Tony DeAngelo in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 8, and signed forward Nicolas Deslauriers (four-year contract) and defenseman Justin Braun (one-year contract) on July 13.
"I think on paper we have a really good team," Hayes said. "But I think when you have such a bad year like we did last year, it just adds that to it. ... I think with 'Torts' leading the group, it's going to be a hard but fun training camp, and I think we're going to kind of embrace the hard work together and hopefully come together as a team quicker than it would normally take."
